Monday, December 29, 2014

Oh, how many times I have heard that muttered and said it myself. "Why bother?" There's always an answer, even if we don't want to hear it.

It's been a good year, a busy year. A year of so many firsts.

I completed four sprint triathlons, the bike portions for both half-iron and full-iron distance triathlons, several metric centuries, a solo century, and a half marathon. It was a long season, and I didn't train as much as I should have. Crashed and burned in November, then got sick. Now I am struggling to get my groove back and be consistent.

I turned 40.

I've made a few good friends from exercising. I also lost a few friendships this year. I've angered several people, I have been shunned. I was unfriended by someone I had considered a good acquaintance - I still have no idea what happened there. I suspect it's simply that I am me.

I am liberal and outspoken. I take a lot of pictures of my kids and their firsts, their seconds... their everything. I show up at baby showers in jeans. I don't get into jewelry or clothes. I don't wear make-up very often anymore. I make stupid jokes. I have a big nose and crooked teeth.

Today is one of those days I really want to tell everyone to flip off.

Seriously. I want to crawl into a hole, eat hash browns and drink beer until I forget I our cats' names.

But I won't.

I will keep wearing fur-lined crocs to the grocery store. I will keep being liberal and unapologetic. I'll still plaster your newsfeed with pictures of my kids.

Like this

I can only be who I am. I will never please everyone. I will NOT let others rule my happiness.

And eventually when my efforts at being friendly are clearly not wanted - I will leave.

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all. Christmas is, of course, a special holiday - always has been in my family. When I was young, we celebrated Christmas Eve at my Grandma Green's (my dad's mom) apartment in Hobart, then Christmas morning by ourselves, followed by Christmas Day with my Grandmother (my mom's mom) and her son. It was always so pleasant and felt ..... just right.

This was our first year in our own home without plans to travel back to Indiana with our extended family, and I really wasn't sure how it was going to feel. I was surprised at how many other Carolina transplants with children the same age as ours were also staying put for Christmas this year. Even so, everything felt perfect leading up to today. The kids enjoyed decorating, using their Advent calendars, and watching gifts appear under the tree.

The tree and a few decorations

We baked and baked and baked some more.

Speaking of waiting - managed to squeeze in last-minute shopping, and a last-minute-for-insurance-purposes physical.

Feelin' hot hot hot

It's important to take care of yourself - all year long. That doesn't just mean getting in a run. It means listening to your heart as well, listening to when stress is ruling too much of you. And making the right choices to address it.

Anyway - last night we spent part of Christmas Eve with friends. We were so blessed to be invited to two celebrations, actually - and we enjoyed an early dinner with great company. It definitely took the edge off being "alone" on Christmas Eve.

Santa likes soymilk, FYI.

Then it was Christmas morning. The magic was in full force.

So, now we are recovering from the morning...

And making homemade gravy for the baked ziti this evening.

Sometimes, it's hard to wait. To wait for that goal PR in a race. Waiting to see family again. Waiting for a moment to relax. But sometimes it's all worth waiting for...

So keep being brave, continue being strong, continue cherishing your moments and memories. Make your goals - you WILL reach them. And try to find the good, because I assure you it's there.

Monday, December 22, 2014

A FB friend shared an awful story about a woman who left her 4yo son with a stranger at Wal-Mart in Portage, Indiana (my hometown). I didn't want to read the article comments, but the comments on his page included something along the lines of "seriously - what is wrong with people?"

What is wrong with people? We look down on poor people, we look down on minorities. Some lives are worth something, others are not. Plain and simple.

And before you accuse me of overgeneralizing, consider the following things that are discussed all of the time:

1.) That poor family shouldn't be asking for an X-box. They should sell all extra things and just worry about food and clothes. (Because poor children aren't allowed a nice toy now and then, if someone wants to give them one. They aren't allowed to want to be like their friends.)

2.) Don't send your child to a school that has too many free/reduced lunches.

3.) Anyone who has used the word "thug" on Facebook over the last four months.

4.) Anyone who uses the word "justice" when another person has been killed. Period.

I could go on and on. My "haters" on my FB friends list have already stopped reading, and/or are preparing some "liberals are ignorant," "gosh, I hate some people" or something similar to share on Instagram, etc. And we just continue to promote this "my life is more important than yours." My life matters more. Her life matters more than his, etc.

We don't understand that our lack of compassion, our willingness to judge others, to say nasty things, to not care, to not try understand what it's really like to walk in someone else's shoes because "that second cousin of my friend's neighbor scams the system" or "my friend who is black said they were thugs", etc. We look for every excuse to justify our own terribly selfish remarks.

That's not a society. That's not what community is about.

What's wrong with people? We all need to look in the mirror and ask ourselves that question.

As for that poor kid - he's going to bounce in and out of the system. He may be lucky enough to have a teacher who cares. Most likely, he's going to feel people looking down on him his entire life - I am sure people already have. And as a teacher and someone who has spent a lot of time studying this, I know what his fate is - and so do you.

Sometimes when people tell you that you're worthless, that you aren't as important as they are - you start to believe them.

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

When my Alex was around 16-months-old, Derek and I vacationed to Lakeland, Florida to visit his grandparents. We swam in their community pool - my son's first experience with water other than bath-time - and he *loved* it. He enjoyed it so much, as soon as we got back to Morrisville, I enrolled him in Mommy & Me swim classes at Triangle Swim School. The instructor was outstanding and had Alex going under water, turning over, floating, etc. We both adored her, but unfortunately she left the swim school to return to teaching preschool full-time.

Alex "swimming" at a hotel this past July 4

Fast forward three years, several swim instructors, a sensory processing disorder diagnosis, and a household move later - we ended up registering for the same swim school again but in a different location. And wouldn't you know it - the same teacher. :-) After a conversation with her, I realized she understood my son so much because she, too, has a child with SPD. Within three months, she had Alex go from a strong doggie-paddle to understanding the free-style stroke, dolphin kick, backstroke and starting to side stroke. And he loved every moment.

We still enjoyed our super fancy backyard pool this summer😂

Was so disappointed and heartbroken for her (and selfishly for us), to discover her health had taken a turn for the worse, and she was not going to be working anymore (at all). Alex had his last lesson with her today.

It's really hard to find people who understand Alex. Even more so, it's hard to find people who can balance the gentle yet firm tone needed for swimming. We will miss her on many levels.

Not sure if Alex will ever want to try triathlon, but I do know - out of this great, big, scary world - he has enjoyed swimming *so* much. And this woman had everything to do with it.

Saturday, December 13, 2014

Pretty much when it comes to trails. Well, pretty much when it comes to walking on flat land, zumba class... I am not full of grace. But there is something magical about trail running (when I am not rolling my ankles or falling, of course).

My workout called for a "long" run today. I asked my coach if I could trail run instead, and she gave me the O.K. After eating breakfast, emptying and refilling the dishwasher, feeding the cats, getting dressed, I headed out the door and drove down to Umstead Park.

Compression. Ahhhh...... (And the world's shortest toes)

Umstead Park is truly an amazing resource in Raleigh - bridle trails for horseback riding/biking, paved trails and several technical trails with a few difficult climbs. My favorite (admittedly only one I've tried) is Company Mill - a 5.8 mile loop with some difficult terrain and gorgeous views.

Well - time to do this!

The amazing aspect to running early at Umstead are the people who show up before the park opens - there are always ten cars parked on the side of the road before the gate. The parking lot is also very full - everytime I've been there. The Triangle definitely embraces fitness, I guess!

This trail starts downhill, and I quickly realized I forgot what it felt like to run on trails. So many leaves on the ground make it difficult to see roots and rocks, but you sure feel them (ankle rolls... be careful). The first mile is mostly downhill, then you cross the river and can choose clockwise or counter-clockwise for the actual loop. I prefer counter, because you get a nice easy downhill for the fourth mile - it's a good and much-needed "second-wind."

What's a technical trail? It means you climb over things like this sometimes.

And this is not the most difficult part of this loop, not even close!

My pace Was. So. Slow. (For me. For what I can/used to/want to do. For me.). A few people passed me, "I'm just gonna squeeze by really quick." They weren't lying! They would run by and be gone. *poof* And that's when it dawned on me.

Where's the ski lift?

This is stupidly hard. This isn't fun. This hurts. It's cold. I don't look like these underwear models running around (seriously - why are so many trail runners gorgeous??). I am so much slower than I was a year ago. I can't even run this hill. I can barely keep walking up it. I am suddenly craving nachos. I can taste them. Or am I tasting last night's dinner?

Here's the secret. It does hurt. It isn't always fun to scramble around with your heart rate elevated. There are always a billion other things you could be doing. I don't enjoy most workouts *while* I am doing them.

And none of that matters.

You do it for the finish. You do it so you can be alone. You do it so you have a valid excuse to tell an inanimate hill, "UP YOURS" or to yell at a tree root.

It doesn't matter if you don't look like the underwear models.

It doesn't matter if you walk up every hill.

It doesn't matter if you are slow, just starting out, or have been doing it for a while and are still slow.

You're moving your body because you can. Because life. Because you just get the one chance.

It's a good time to pull this out.

It's not easy, I am not going to lie. There are TWO times I have embraced the pain and the hurt in the nearly two years I've been running/riding/tri-ing. TWO. The bike portion of Raleigh 70.3, and my bike ride for Beach 2 Battleship. That's it. The other times - I hated the during. Hated it. But I sure loved the ending, and I was certainly glad I did it.

Yeah, you're allowed to swear at hills like this. It's ok.

Please keep your chin up. Take the chance. Push through it. Because when you do, something beautiful happens.

You see the possibilities. You eventually see results. And you and your muddy feet and bottom get to enjoy some nice views along the way.

And the last part? You will inspire me to keep going. So, I need you to - just as much as *you* need you to. Get moving, my friends.

Friday, December 12, 2014

While I have embraced my No Meat Athlete journey, the rest of my little clan has not. My daughter will crunch veggies all day, but my son is all about that chicken, 'bout that chicken, no tofu... My husband doesn't say it anymore, but he coined the phrase, "Salad is what food eats." Hmph.

Ask any parent of young children what is challenging to do with littles around your feet and they will tell you 1.) Cleaning 2.) Preparing non-box meals and 3.) Not wanting to drink yourself to sleep each night after the kids go to bed. Well. Perhaps "3" is just me.

A friend mentioned on Facebook something called "Blue Apron" and took a few pictures of fancy meals she prepared. At first I envisioned a pre-packaged food delivery service: heat and serve. It's not! (I should insert this here - in case someone other than my mom reads this blog - that this is just my personal review, I am in no way affiliated with Blue Apron and no one has paid me to review the product.)

So, after I ooo'd and ahh'd, my very sweet friend offered me a free trial of their service! Free works for me! I signed up and saw they have vegetarian options, as well as the choice to eliminate specific meats (for carnivores).

Our box finally came today! In it was the ingredients to prepare three meals for two people.

Carefully and safely packaged with ice packs.

The first thing I noticed was that (I guess I still didn't fully understand...) they send you the whole produce, the parts to make sauces, etc. - YOU do the work. I like that - it really is a program for people who enjoy cooking (which I do, I just don't have the time, energy, etc.).

I stashed everything in the fridge. As you can see, they separate the ingredients for each meal.

Kind of a lot of plastic... sadface. I'll talk about that later.

I decided to make the first meal tonight - tempura-battered acorn squash tacos. Uh, yum! I fetched the ingredients, and followed the very easy-to-read instructions (which are also available on-line, if you prefer to use your iPad in the kitchen). It gives a time estimate, 25-35 minutes for this meal, as well as nutritional information - a whopping 700 calories per serving, but that's not too awful if you plan for that the rest of the day. Regardless, this wasn't the healthiest meal - but it was delicious!

Getting started. I am not good with avocados, in case you didn't notice.

Actual cooking/preparing time for me: 1 hour

Why? I was also making the kids Mac 'N Cheese, answering their questions, stepping over cats, etc. If you are only focusing on the recipe, it might very well only take 35 minutes.

So, how was it?

Tempura-Battered Acorn Squash Tacos

It was outstanding, if I do say so myself. So, here's my take...

Who Is This Program For?

1.) People who enjoy cooking. You do the work. You cut things up, you cook, you are the chef. You have been wanting to try something new, you get bored with the same thing - this helps you experiment with new menus! And you keep the recipe cards, so you can always make a recipe again.

2.) People who want to save money because you eat out too often. It's a wee bit less than $10 per person each meal, including delivery fees. We don't always eat that expensively, but when you figure in tip, gas - it averages out to more than that, I'm sure.

3.) People who don't have time to go to the grocery store. It's a huge benefit because Blue Apron includes *everything*. Tonight's ingredients called for mayonnaise - they included the two tablespoons. It called for smoked paprika - there was a little bag. You aren't buying a $5 jar of mayonnaise that's going to go bad in your refrigerator.

4.) People who change their minds. You have the option of holding your delivery. Something sounds gross? Going out of town? Just don't do delivery that week.

What are the cons?

The cons are MY cons. Maybe not yours. But these things might eventually be a deal breaker for me.

1.) No totally-vegan options.

2.) It's a lot of plastic. They tell you how to recycle and reuse everything, but I wish they used non-plastic reusable bags and pouches, and had a way for you to send it back each week. I cringe at the potential for so much waste.

3.) The produce isn't organic. Ugh. Granted, it's rarely organic when I go out, either. But 99% of the produce I buy is organic.

In summary, I like this. I love that it's a simple way for me to get involved with cooking at home. What will the kids eat, you ask? I don't mind making them something simple ahead of time - veggie burgers, pasta, even leftovers. Hopefully they will try a little of what we eat each meal and broaden their food-choice horizons. A toddler-mom can dream... We will keep trying it for a while, for sure.

Thursday, December 11, 2014

Well, I said I had ENOUGH. That means you have to throw yourself back into it. If I want a finisher's medal, well - I have to do the work.

I had dinner with a friend last night and we ended up talking for a long time, it was a very pleasant evening - but we suddenly realized it was 11:15! PM! Way past my bedtime. But worth every moment. I feel very blessed to have such good people in my life.

I had intended to run my scheduled four miles today at 6:30AM, but instead I hit snooze and waited for the kids to wake us up at 7.

Guess I'll run with Mads in the morning!

Instead I finished most of our Christmas cards while Mads (2yo) played and Alex (4yo) was at preschool. No run with Mads. :-/

When Madeleine slept on the way to pick up Alex (which also included a stop at the post office), continued to nap *through* pick-up and didn't wake up until we got home - I knew afternoon nap was shot.

Better get that run in, H. Oh no. Does that mean ...

Bundled up the kids after snuggling on the couch for a bit after lunch, loaded up the Bob and headed to the trail. Neuse, that is. Neuse River, running stars...

It's pretty brisk for North Carolina right now (40's), I decided to use a blanket and the weather cover in case it was breezy. The kids seemed to stay nice and warm. Of course, goldfish and iPad were also in there. I do not care. If it keeps them quiet and happy, then all is good!

Warm and cozy kids!

I started pushing them and immediately realized my kids weigh a lot more than they did a year ago! Oh boy. So much for speed work! Oh well, I figured I just needed to keep my body moving - I had not had a run longer than three miles for quite some time.

Ugh.....

It was a challenge. The Bob was creaking a bit on Alex's side, and tended to pull when he leaned over. There were the usual tense moments: I need water! Mads won't share! When will this end?

Not soon enough, kid! Heh. But we did it! Four cold miles at a pace that was one-minute slower than race pace. That's .... not good. But I have some time and I am going to work hard.

Cheeeeeese! And hey, look - I took Mommy's water bottle! Hahaha! (Mads was ... busy)

Very glad the kids cooperated for the most part. And it just might have been enough incentive to go ahead and not hit snooze next time. ;-)

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Enough with my gut, the weight I have steadily gained throughout the triathlon season this year (and sure wasn't slowing down after it ended).

I went to the doctor this morning and she prescribed antibiotic for the sinus infection (going on two weeks). Of course, I magically feel better and haven't had a capsule yet. But should probably take the course regardless.

Called my husband this afternoon and said, "as soon as you walk in the door - I'm going to the neighborhood gym and running. Ish."

I found my trusty heart rate monitor and the cats promptly thought it was a toy - not completely surprising. They hadn't seen it for quite some time.

Headed down to the community lodge - which looks pretty darn nice for Christmas! That was pleasant.

Down the stairs and found the treadmill.

I loathe this treadmill. There isn't a way to quickly change your speed without scrolling through, and I *swear* it's terribly inaccurate. But, it sure beats running in the rain and dark with a sinus infection!

After thirty minutes, I ran about 2.5 miles in zone 2, and that is fine for me. So glad I turned on my garmin. Ooooops.

(Heart rate was still up for the picture)

I did it. Enough was enough. I have Raleigh Ironman 70.3 in six months. A half-marathon in less than three months. I've gained fifteen pounds since May. Enough.

Do I recommend working out while you're really sick? No. But after two weeks of barely any exercising, feeling sorry for myself - it was time. Moving a bit is good for you, and I am glad it did it.

Yep - that's some flab hanging over my pants. But it is *my* body, I love it, and I am taking care of it again.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Greensburg, Indiana in 1998 - I made just enough money teaching to pay for rent and utilities, food, cat food and supplies, a car payment and that was about it. I balanced my checkbook regularly because I lived from paycheck to paycheck. A representative from the teacher's union once talked to me about starting a 401K, and I couldn't. I didn't have a single cent to spare.

My salary with a few years experience at a private Catholic school six years later was not much more than it was in Greensburg. I had to live with my parents, and I waited tables on the weekends - sometimes during the week - but I was happy to be teaching again after two years in the optical industry. Unfortunately, I had accumulated a chunk of debt (between two moves across the country, a job that didn't pay as promised, a car and apartment that were more than I really could afford - putting extras on a credit card had quickly added up) and it was either file for bankruptcy and be homeless or hang my tail between my legs and move in with my parents. Thankfully they were gracious, accepting and non-judgmental - they took me in. When my husband and I were married a few years later, my new job paid much more comparatively speaking and I was able to quickly take care of my debt.

I've been in the nice suburbs of Raleigh for about six years now - it's incredibly easy (and tempting) to completely block out those struggles. To forget stressing over the checkbook my first two years out of college, to forget eating ramen in my apartment. To forget that utterly hopeless feeling I had when I realized I could be homeless if my parents had not been willing to help me. While some poor decisions on my part led to my struggle, some of it was beyond my control - it was simply fate. Crappy luck.

This past Saturday evening I had to run to Wal-Mart. I know, I know - as much as I hate, and have been outspoken about avoiding the store for a number of reasons, they are beginning to carry organic items and a nice variety of vegetarian options. Savings are important right now, so there I was walking toward the holiday decor for a few strands of Christmas lights. There was a man and woman, probably in their early-/mid-twenties, with their daughter who looked to be around 18-months-old standing near customer service. The man was on his cell phone and I couldn't help overhearing part of his conversation.

"But, that's not my fault. This was a mistake on your end. That check should have cleared. You're the ones who processed it twice. That's one hundred dollars and it isn't my fault. What am I supposed to do?"

I instantly knew what their life was like. I knew they furiously balanced their checkbook, fretting over cents - and a one hundred dollar mistake had probably left them without any money at all. No money to buy groceries, let alone all of the Christmas gifts and decor they were staring at while the young man argued about a mistake that had left them without any money.

It was like an icy knife stabbed me in the heart. I remembered that feeling. Standing in their clean, but obviously not expensive clothes, daughter in winter coat that was probably several years old, and an empty shopping cart - and the sinking reality that they had no money to fill it with groceries or decorations.

That could have been me. That could be me if, God forbid, my husband lost his job and couldn't find another one quickly. That could be any of us.

Some people have a large savings and year's salary in the bank to help in case of emergencies. Congratulations to them. Good job. You worked hard, but the truth is you also had a bit of luck on your side. Some people choose careers that are needed (teachers, police officers, firemen/women, social workers, occupational therapists) - knowing there is a not a glass ceiling but an opaque ceiling that will forever limit their income. Unless they luck into a trust fund or inheritance, it's impossible to get that far ahead when your weekly paycheck barely covers life's necessities. Vacations? Fancy cars? Forget it.

And they are one sickness, one layoff away, one phone call away from slipping under the water.

Thursday, December 4, 2014

To
me - it's a lack of compassion for mankind and the delicate gift that
is human life. It's when the "comments" say, "good shot" after someone
kills a would-be robber, or when we hear the military bombed the
headquarters of so-and-so. "Good job," they say.

Good job? You
killed someone else. I'm not naive - I know there are true situations
where you must kill or be killed. But no one should ever say, "good
job."

'Good job' and 'nice shot' is for target shooting. It's
for winning basketball games, for finishing a race. You say it when
your child gets an "A" on a test. When your spouse gets a promotion.

Instead we say, "good job" to people when they kill someone else. People said, "justice was served."
This isn't a race thing (but racism is a part of it, absolutely), it's
not political - it's a humankind thing. We don't have compassion or
respect for human life.

A blogger (Swim Bike Mom - I don't want
to direct link this to her, because obviously I am speaking on a
controversial topic) recently blogged about setbacks, and I actually
linked it last week on Facebook because I felt silly for whining about my cold. In
that blog (The Art of the Setback) she said this:

"When others
see you overcome obstacles, they are inspired to do the same. Pull up
those bootstraps and make others say, “If she can overcome ____, then I
can overcome ___.” That’s called community, and that’s how we help each
other. There is no shame in admitting your setbacks, making them
public. Success is lovely. But when someone does nothing but brag
about their successes with an “I am awesome and I earned this” attitude…
well, that is alienating to about 99% of the world... be humble.
Realize that you are always one nice fall down the stairs from being
crowned a Swim Bike Klutz."

If only we were more humble about our
place in this world. All of the time. If only we showed compassion to
everyone. All of the time.